SOUTHERN UTAH– The saddle bronc victor of last weekend’s Dixie Round-Up Rodeo competed against some of the best cowboys in the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association and four of those competitors are his brothers.
Jake Wright, 22, of Milford won the saddle bronc portion of the Dixie Round-Up Rodeo, and close behind him were his brothers Cody, 34, Jesse, 22, and Alex, 24. The Wright brothers are originally from Hurricane and have since moved to Milford where they now call home. These four brothers compete in the PRCA circuit and two of them are lined up to compete at the National Finals Rodeo in December. The other two are still trying to qualify for the finals.
The Bill and Evelyn Wright family consists of seven boys and six girls. All seven of the boys have either competed in PRCA, college or high school rodeos. Calvin Wright no longer competes, Spencer Wright competes at the college level, and Stuart Wright competes in high school rodeo currently.
Their father Bill Wright began the rodeo addiction, said Thomas Hirschi, who is the Wright brothers’ uncle.
“Many years ago, Bill attended a saddle bronc clinic put on by Jim Shoulders … ,” Hirschi said. “And [Bill] was told he had more talent than anyone. [Rodeo] is bred and raised into those boys.”
Long time family friend Colette Wadsworth of Hurricane said not only are the Wright brothers talented, they are also humble and respectful. She said their family is unique to the rodeo business.
“Beside that, there are very few people who have 13 kids and have four of them attend the same rodeo,” Wadsworth said. “My husband says ‘it is like they are rocking in a rocking chair when they ride.’”
Cody Wright is currently sitting in the No. 1 position going into the NFR. He has previously held the Saddle Bronc World Champion title from competing at the NFR in 2008. After that competition, Cody Wright had a documentary film created about his journey to the world title. The film was produced by film professionals and students at Southern Utah University. The film is titled Born to Ride: Cody Wright and the Quest for a World Title. The DVD can be purchased online.
Watch the Wright brothers compete for the world title in December at the NFR held in Las Vegas.
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